Electric lamp support for christmas trees



Jam, 28, fiWW. H. GLASER ZAE LEGG ELECTRIC LAMP SUPPORT FOR CHRISTMAS TREES Filed Aug. 11, 1944 Patented Jan. 28, 1947 ELECTRIC LAMPSUPPORT FOR CHRISTMAS TREES Henry Glaser, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application August 11, 1944, Serial No. 549,055

My invention relates to electric lamps used as illuminating decorations for Christmas trees. As now used for this purpose the lamps are attached to conducting wires which have to be strung or tied to the tree branches to sustain the lamps thereon and to attain the requisite distribution of the lamps on the tree to secure a uniform lighting effect. Manifestly, this mode of application involves considerable time and work and imports the possibility of Wire breakage with attendant fire hazards, and considerable lamp breakage.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a simpleand inexpensive support for a multiplicity of electric lamps and the necessary conductors therefor, in the form of a frame-Work readily associatable with a Christmas tree, and supported independently of the tree to sustain the lamps and conductors in proper elevated position about the tree, and in an orderly and well distributed arrangement to enhance the illuminating and decorative effect produced thereby.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a support of the above described character wherein the frame-work is made up of sections detacha bly and electrically connected one to the other for the dual purpose of varying the height of the support to render it applicable to trees of various heights by adding or subtracting sections to or from the frame-work, and to permit of the frame-work being readily disassembled to facilitate packing, storing, and shipping.

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of a lamp support in which the framework sections are constructed of electrical insulating material either in solid form, wherein the conductors are embedded therein, or in tubular form with the conductors loose therein, with lamp sockets secured in the insulating material and connected to the conductors, and electrical fittings detachably connecting the sections to each other as well as the conductors of the sections so that current from a single source can be supplied to all of the lamp sockets of the frame-work for illuminating all of the lamps.

I will describe only one form of electric lamp support for Christmas trees, and two forms of frame-work sections, each embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a view showing in perspective one form of electric lamp support embodying my invention associated with a Christmas tree.

Claims. (01. 240-) Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the support in side elevation and partly in section.

Fig, 3 isa fragmentary plant of the top member of the support with a portion thereof in section.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing in perspective certain of the frame-work sections and the electrical fittings connecting these sections.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of a frame-work section.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring to Fig. 2, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a support in the form of an open frame-work preferably tapered from top to bottom and which may comprise four legs L supporting four vertical members V secured in spaced relation one to the other by horizontal members H, and connected at their upper ends by a circular member 0. In the present instance the members V and H are secured in a rectangular arrangement to provide a rectangular support terminating at its top in a circular member C. Such a form of frame-Work is readily adaptable to a Christmas tree to receive the trunk thereof, and to allow the branches to extend from the members of the frame-work in the normal manner so that the symmetry of the tree as a whole is not disturbed.

Each vertical member V is made up of a plurality of sections [5, and each section is constructed of a solid length of suitable insulating material such as one of the well known plastic compositions. A pair of electrical conducting wires I6 are embedded longitudinally in each section I5, and these wires are connected, within the material, by transverse branch wires H, with the latterin turn electrically connected to the base and side respectively of a screw socket IS. The entrance end of this socket is exposed to permit an electric lamp 19 to be screwed therein. Extending from the ends of each section l5 are conducting blades or plugs 20, their inner ends being permanently secured within the insulating material and electrically connected to the ends of the two wires [6. The blades 20 of the uppermost sections l5 are bent at an angle where they project from the section for extension into slots or sockets 2| in the circular member C.

The horizontal members H are each made up of a plurality of sections 22 arranged end to end and likewise formed of solid insulating material. Each section has a pair of wires 23 embedded therein and branch wires connecting the wires 23 to lamp sockets 25 in the same manner as the wires and sockets of the section I5. The wires 23 at one end are electrically connected to conducting blades or plugs 26 similar to the blades 2!], while the other ends of the wires of any one section are exposed within sockets or slots 21 in which the blades of the confronting section are adapted to be received so as to have contact with the wires.

The outer ends of the end-most sections 22 of any one horizontal member H are detachably secured to the respective vertical members V by electrical sockets S which cooperate with the blades 20 and 26 to electrically connect the wires 16 with the wires 23. As the horizontal members of both the upper and lower groups are in a rectangular arrangement, their confronting ends are in abutting relation to each other at the corners of the frame-work with the vertical members interposed therebetween. This arrangement lends to the use of four-way sockets S, as will be understood from a consideration of Fig. 4.

The circular member C is likewise made up of sections 28 of solid insulating material with wires 29 embedded therein and connected by branch wires 30, which latter, in turn, are connected to lamp sockets 3!. The sections 28 are detachably secured one to the other by conducting blades or plugs 32 projecting from one end of any one section and into suitable slots 33 in the confronting end of the adjacent section. The blades 32 are secured in one end of one section so as to be electrically connected to the wires 29 thereof, and so that when extended into the slots of the adjacent section come into contact with the adjacent ends of the wires of the other section. As shown in Fig. 2, the blades 26 at the upper end of any one vertical member when extended into the circular member C come into contact with the conductors 29 to provide electrical connections between the vertical members and the circular member. The confronting faces of the vertical members and the circular member may be chamfered as shown in Fig. 2 in order that the circular member may be properly supported on the vertical members.

From the preceding description of my electric lamp support, it will be clear that with the vertical members and the horizontal members made up of sections detachably secured to each other and electrically connected to the lamp sockets of the several sections, that sections of both the vertical and horizontal members may be varied in number to increase or decrease the overall height thereof to render the support applicable to Christmas trees of various heights. When increasing or decreasing the height of the support in this manner, the original diameter of the circular member need not be varied as the upper ends of the vertical members maintain their original spaced positions. Also, when the wires of the sections of the several members are electrically connected to each other the lamps l9 as received in the sockets l8 will be connected in parallel so that when a plug S connected by conductors 42 to a suitable source of current, not shown, is engaged within one of the sockets S, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, all lamps on the frame-work will be illuminated. By associating the frame-work with a Christmas tree, as illustrated in Fig. 1, all lamps iii are fixedly supported between the tree branches so that when illuminated they effect lighting of the entire tree and in a highly artistic manner. By connecting the several lamps in parallel as-they are, should any one lamp burn out, it will not affect illumination i of the other lamps and thus the burnt out lamp can be quickly located.

Attachment or detachment of any two sections to or from each other of either the vertical members, the horizontal members, or the circular member in assembling or disassembling the framework, can be easily and readily accomplished, and when the sections are assembled a rigid structure is formed to render it self-supporting independently of the tree. Also, when the frame-work is collapsed the sections can be readily boxed for storage or shipping.

Referring now to Fig. 5, I have here shown a modified construction of any one section of any one vertical or horizontal member, and which is adapted for use with the four-way sockets S at the corners of the frame-work. This modified section is for connecting lamps in series and comprises a tubular body 34 of suitable insulating material containing a pair of insulated wires 35, and one of which is connected to suitable sockets 36 in which electric lamps l9 are adapted to be received. The ends of the section 34 are closed by plugs 31 and 38 secured therein by screws 39. These plugs are formed of insulating material, and the plug 31 has secured therein projecting contacting blades or plugs 50 which are electrically connected to the adjacent ends of the wires 35. The other plug 38 has slots 41 therein in which the other ends of the wires 35 are exposed so that when the blades 40 of the adjacent section are extended thereinto they will have contact with the wires 35.

Whether the sections of the vertical and horizontal members are constructed of solid insulating material as in Fig. 2, or tubular insulating material as in Fig. 5, the wires and the lamp sockets are thoroughly insulated and otherwise protected against possible short-circuits and the accompanying fire hazards.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of electrical lamp support for Christmas trees embodying my invention, and two forms of framework sections each also embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination: a self-supporting framework including vertical members spaced horizontally one from the other; horizontal members bridging said vertical members at intervals along the length thereof; each of said vertical and hori- I zontal members formed of electrical insulating material; electrical conductors in each of said members; electrical lamp sockets in said members electrically connected to at least one of said conductors; and electrical fittings having separable parts connected to the ends of said conductors so as to detachably secure said horizontal members to said vertical members, and to place the conductors of all members in circuit communication with each other.

2. In combination: a self-supporting framework including vertical members spaced horizontally one from the other; horizontal members bridging said vertical members at intervals along the length thereof; each of said vertical and horizontal members formed of sections arranged end to end and each comprising a solid body of insulating material; electrical conductors embedded in each of said sections; electrical lamp sockets in each of said sections electrically connected across said conductors; and electrical fittings having separable parts connected to the ends of said conductors and to the confronting ends of adjacent sections for detachably securing the sections of said vertical members to each other, and the sections of said horizontal sections to each other and to certain of the sections of the vertical members.

3. In combination: a self-supporting framework including vertical members spaced horizontally one from the other; horizontal members bridging said vertical members at intervals along the length thereof; each of said vertical and horizontal members formed of sections arranged end to end and each comprising a tubular body of insulating material; electrical conductors with each of said bodies; electrical lamp sockets in each of said body sections electrically connected in series with one of said conductors; and electrical fittings having separable parts connected to the ends of said conductors and to the confronting ends of adjacent sections for detachably securing the sections of said vertical members to each other, and the sections of said horizontal sections to each other and to certain of the sections of the vertical members.

4. A combination as embodied in claim 1, wherein a top member is supported on the upper ends of said vertical members, said top member comprising a plurality of sections arranged end to end and each including a body of insulating material; electrical conductors in said body; electrical lamp sockets in each of said sections electrically connected to said conductors; electrical fittings having separable parts certain of which d are connected to the confronting ends of adjacent sections of said top member and to the conductors therein, and the other of said fittings connecting one of the top member sections to the verticalmembers and to the conductors in the latter.

5. In combination, a self-supporting framework including a rigid top member of substantially circular form and of a diameter sufficient to encircle the upper portion of a Christmas tree and constructed of electrical insulating material with electrical conductors therein and electrical lamp sockets therein located at spaced intervals and connected to the conductors of the top member, substantially vertical members spaced horizontally in a substantially circular arrangement, each vertical member being formed in sections in end to end relation and of electrical insulating material with electrical conductors therein, lamp sockets in said sections connected to the conductors of the sections, electrical fittings having separable parts connected to the ends of the conductors of the sections and detachably securing the sections to each other in a linear arrangement and other electrical fittings having parts on said top member and on the upper ends of said vertical members for detachably securing said top member to the vertical members to render the frame-work substantially rigid, and electrically connecting the conductors of the vertical members to those of the top memher to place the conductors of all the members in circuit communication with each other.

HENRY GLASER. 

